Hi there
I am a 3L at top 5 law school and thinking of IP llm (for copyright, art related issues). I am considering NYU or Cardozo. I will apply soon. am I crazy to do that?
For those of you who know of the programs, r the students there usually come right after other JD programs or some years of practice? How many students are in the program? just anything about the programs?
I can't picture myself being a coporate lawyer, I 'd rather be a professor or an artist/designer. I am interested in the arts, too. should I go to art/design school?
help me out on this. I am completely lost, miserable...
IP lawyers, professors or artist turned lawyers show me the way...
MILLION THANKS!!!!!!! -Sera

Gaining more knowledge is absolutely not crazy thing.

Nobody can tell you except yourself. It's your own life.

Find out the way you want to go, and go for it.

Sounds a little bit crazy to me...To be very honest, I think that a LLM for a US JD is a waste of time and money, unless you have a very good reason to spend another year in law school. Among the reasons that I can think of are if you graduated from a low tier school and a LLM from a better rank school will help you or if you are pursuing a LLM designed to US students (NYU tax).

If you are a top 5 law school student, I suggest you take IP related courses, apply to a good IP law firm, work a little bit and then you can think of how to gain more knowledge.

I have to agree with Paul on this one. Since most IP LLM's are designed from regular JD curriculae, it seems useless to pay USD 35,000 plus expenses, for courses similar to those you have already taken at a top 5 Law School. I also think that, coming from a top 5 JD program, you'll have no problem landing a job where you prefer and therefore, you should work for a while, perhaps in a specialised law firm or an art/film company (2-3 years). This will give you a better insight on the professsion and the expectations you may seek if you decide to pursue your career as an attorney further. On the other hand, working in a Company (Walt Disney Co.), or in a government office (US Copyright Office), or in an international org. (WIPO), may also give you more time to continue your hobbies. Most specialised law firms will exploit you, during your first years, since "training hours" are not billable, and this means lots of overtime work, which is rarer in the other two options.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll decide what's best for you. Just one more word of advice if I may be allowed: never loose focus on your interests. Once you get into the rat race, issues like money, making partner, traveling the world on business, expansion to virgin markets, and just overal material ambition and quest for professional/peer recognition, may blur your judgment. Working and gaining experience is not a waste of time at all, but may be wasted time if you are doing something not nearly related to your interests or ambitions.

Very true I must say. I agree with all the points raised by Asterion.

However, I think LL.M. in specific area of law is designed for JD student who want to focus on specific law.

Not true. Only a few "specific LLMs" are really designed for JD students. If that is the case with NYU IP LLM or Cardoso IP LLM, then you should consider it. In any case, the LLM is much better when you have some working experience.

ic, thanks for clarifying me.